Many marketers today rely on a host of marketing tools to help them create, distribute, and manage their marketing efforts. This may be in the form of marketing automation software, a brand management system, or any number of social following/sharing tools.

A lot of work goes into setting up these systems when they’re first implemented. However, the routine upkeep can sometimes fall short as more pressing priorities outweigh things like cleaning up data or reviewing permissions.

As a graphic designer who previously worked at an agency that dealt mostly with digital and inbound marketing, I had mixed feelings about accepting a job at Suttle-Straus. The company seemed like a great fit, but I had only toured a printer once and I found it overwhelming. However, that was part of the appeal. Turns out, there’s a lot I can learn by getting out of my comfort zone.

Editor's note: The USPS promotion mentioned in this article has expired. To view current promotions from the US Postal Service, click here.

Direct mail that creates strong engagement with the recipient also has the potential to deliver a greater return on investment. That’s why many marketers are turning to new or unique ways to design direct mail pieces. One way to stand out from the crowd is through the use of different applications of ink, paper, and folds.

Despite the rapid rise of digital marketing, direct mail has remained one of the most effective marketing channels in terms of consistently delivering return on investment (ROI).

From wide format to technology, see what we predict to be some of the biggest print trends of the new year.

Your team just spent weeks researching, designing, writing, and tweaking new marketing materials and are excited to roll them out to your end users. You add them to your distributed marketing platform, and they sit there unused for several weeks. What gives? 

As a marketer, this is probably a question you’ve heard before or maybe even asked yourself. It’s not surprising. In a world that has jumped on the digital bandwagon, less emphasis has been placed on the more traditional marketing channels, almost making them appear obsolete.

I was recently at a marketing luncheon, networking with like-minded marketers while learning the latest and greatest in social media. Out of nowhere, the woman sitting next to me asked the guy across from her, “Does anyone even do direct mail anymore?”

Editor's note: The USPS promotion mentioned in this article has expired. To view current promotions from the US Postal Service, click here.

Direct mail continues to be a strong medium for many of today’s marketers, and the emergence of new technologies is just one of the ways it has remained competitive in an increasingly digital world. Advances in technology now allow the recipients to engage with a mailer via their smart phone or tablet, seamlessly blending the world of print and digital.

With 2016 approaching, it’s time to reflect back on some of the most popular blog articles and videos of the last year. From creative design to mailing to sneak peeks of our team in action, see what others found to be the most enjoyable and beneficial content from Suttle-Straus.

New software systems are great – when your team knows how to use them. When they don’t, one of two things typically happen (and in some cases, both):

1. The data in the system gets messy, or
2. People don’t use it all 

Unfortunately, these aren’t always easy problems to fix once they’ve happened. Investing time and energy into training at the onset, can save you headaches down the road.